AT&T Responds to Rescheduled FCC Merger Vote

We ran short of time to gain final approval for the merger today, which is not uncommon in these matters. We look forward to the November 3 FCC meeting, when we expect the FCC to complete its review, approve the merger and allow us to begin delivering the numerous benefits of the merger to consumers.

We firmly believe, as do three foreign countries, 18 state commissions and the Department of Justice — every regulatory or legal entity that had an obligation to examine the benefits of this merger — that no conditions on this merger are necessary for this combination to be a public benefit.

However, we are open to discussing with the Democratic FCC Commissioners reasonable conditions on the merger in order to obtain unanimous approval, so long as they do not affect our ability to deliver merger benefits to customers and shareowners, given the intensely competitive environment in which we operate.